Stay put drain plug



Jan. 17, 1961 H. G. STILBORN 2,968,047

STAY PUT DRAIN PLUG Filed Feb. 17, 1958 INVENTOR. /7 6. J77; 50/? United States Patent STAY PUT DRAIN PLUG Herbert G. Stilborn, P.0. Box 361, Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Canada Filed Feb. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 715,699

1 Claim. (Cl: 4-295) This invention relates to plumbing fixtures and more particularly to a drain plug therefor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a manually operated drain plug for various types of plumbing fixtures that will be maintained in proper association with the drain pipe of the fixture during use and which can be readily released whenever desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drain plug of the above type that is maintained in positive pressure engagement with the side walls of the drain pipe during use and which is supported in substantially flush surface engagement with the associated fixture.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a drain plug bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a drain plug made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view showing the manner in which the drain plug is initially placed in position for use; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the I operating position of the drain plug in use.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a drain plug made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a resilient main body portion 11 having a normally convex upper surface 12 and a normally concave lower surface 14. In the disengaged position, the plug 10 has a radially outwardly extending flange 15 integral with the upper surface of the main body portion and a radially upwardly extending beaded lip 17 adjacent to the lower surface thereof. The circumferential edge portion of said lip is normally arcuate in shape. A washer 19 is integral with one end of a centrally located rod 20 that extends perpendicularly through the main body portion 11, the opposite free end of which is attached to a flexible chain 22.

In actual use, the beaded lip 17 is approximately the same size in external diameter as the internal diameter of the drain pipe 24, while the flange 15 is of slightly larger diameter size than the internal diameter of the drain pipe 24. .The drain plug is placed into the drain pipe 24 of the fixture 25 in the initial position 10 shown in Figure 1. By then merely depressing the main body portion by exerting a downward finger pressure upon the top surface 12 of the main body portion 11, the plug is distorted into the sealing position 10a shown in Figure 3. In this operative position, the beaded lip 17 becomes distorted into a vertical cylindrical surface and exerts a radial pressure upon the adjacent inside cylindrical surface of the drain pipe 24, thus effectively preventing the outward flow of water from the inside of the fixture 25 downwardly through the drain pipe 24. At the same time, the flange 15 overlies the opening defining portions of the drain pipe and prevents the drain plug 10a from being depressed too far into the drain pipe and which also acts as a seal for preventing the loss of water. It is obvious that the upper surface of the plug is substantially free of any obstruction, the top of the pin 20 and chain 22 being within the concave cavity formed by the top surface of the plug. The plug cannot be accidentally kicked out of engagement with the drain pipe. After use, it is only necessary to exert a slight pull upon the chain 22 to return the main body portion 11 to the normally undistorted position shown in Figure 2, after which it may be readily removed from the fixture so as to permit the water to drain out.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a drain plug for use in closing the upper opening of a cylindrical drain pipe comprising, a resilient disc shaped main body portion of substantially uniform thickness normally having a lower circular edge portion with an outwardly extending thin integral upper flange, a smooth unobstructed convex upper surface and a substantially smooth concave lower surface, said thin integral annular flange extending a short distance radially outwardly from said circular edge portion as a continuation of the top surface, said lower circular edge portion of said plug entending from the bottom surface thereof upwardly to the lower surface of said flange and formed to provide an integral resilient annular head with normally semicircular external surface, said main body portion of said drain plug being made entirely of resilient material adapted to be collapsed from a convex outside position to a concave extending inside position without effecting a change in the thickness thereof and said semi-circular annular edge portion of said drain plug adapted to be moved outwardly from normal location and in a direction to enlarge the diameter of the circular lower portion of said plug as and when the said normally convex upper surface is depressed from an outside position to an inside position as indicated from the released position of the drain plug when loosely installed in a drain pipe with cylindrical walls and with said flange resting upon the upper peripheral edge of the drain pipe to that of the sealing position of the drain plug when in use, a centrally located rod extending perpendicularly through said main body portion of said plug, a washer secured with the lower end of said rod and extending at right angles therewith, an aperture in the upper end of said rod and a short section of flexible chain having one end thereof secured within said aperture in said rod whereby said drain plug can be released from its tight in use position to the loose normal position.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 438,709 Painter Oct. 21, 1890 2,487,635 Carpenter Nov. 8, 1949 2,709,406 Hyde May 24, 1955 

